'She Was the Best Person I've Ever Met'

Receive the latest local updates in your inbox

Friends and family say goodbye to a 24-year-old woman who was killed by a suspected drunk driver

Friends and family said goodbye to a 24-year-old San Diego woman killed by a suspected drunk driver.

"She was the best person I've ever met, probably the best person I'm ever going to meet," said Kelsey Jolley.

A Community in Mourning

Emily Dowdy died 24 hours after allegedly being hit by a man driving a pick up truck in Pacific Beach (Published Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009)

Emily Dowdy was walking west on Mission Boulevard at Reed Avenue Saturday night when she was hit by a man driving a pickup truck. She died 24 hours after the accident.

According to police, the light was green as the truck turned north onto Mission Blvd. Detectives said the victim was hit as the truck was making that left turn. After the accident, officials said the driver of the truck backed his vehicle out of the intersection and left the scene.

Woman Knocked 20 Feet in Hit and Run

Alleged drunk driver arrested in a hit and run that left a woman in critical condition. (Published Sunday, Feb. 8, 2009)

Witnesses gave detailed descriptions of the suspected driver and also described an occupant of the vehicle emptying alcohol containers outside the truck immediately after the accident, police said.

Friends honored Dowd's memory at a memorial in Pacific Beach on Tuesday.

"She was just special, that's the word to describe Emily: very, very, very special," Jolley said.

Alan Mabrey, 45, faces felony charges of driving under the influence and hit-and-run.